FirePod + Cubase 4 Problem

[JeffTD]

Alright... this started yesterday, and is really strange/pissing me off.

I went to reamp a track yesterday, and found that the only way that my Firepod would actually play the DI track was to run it through the right side of the main stereo bus, which meant it was comming out of my right monitor, as well as the into the Redeye.

I went into the VST Connections and tried to see what was up, changed a few things to test, and then changed back to how they were.

Now, no matter what project I'm in, the ASIO usage bar is at full, and whenever I try to play something back or record, it'll go fine for about 3-4 seconds, and then crackle up like mad, and just go completely apeshit on me.

Switching the ASIO driver to my internal soundcard seems to make playback work fine, but that's not going to work in the long run, (or really any run, for that matter).

Has anyone experienced similar things, or can think of a fix? I'm really crippled right now.

That said, I've been thinking about upgrading my interface for a bit, and this could be the right excuse to do so. It'd be a chunk out of my pocketbook, and I'd probably have to return the 5.1 system I just got, but it might be worth it.

 

[JBroll]

I think you should get a Mac.

Or three.

...

Jeff

 

[JeffTD]

That's the thing... I HAVE a Mac. It's a problem with the PreSonus or one of the Drivers, or even Cubase itself, I'm thinking. I've never had this problem before, though.

But shit... An FF400 would be really nice, and I have an awesome hookup down at Guitar Center.

 

[JBroll]

I know, that was just sarcasm - three isn't even enough, silly.

I know you mentioned switching right over to Cubase 4 when that was discussed, and I'm assuming you've at least tried another DAW on that system to make sure it isn't Cubase fucking with you. If that doesn't change anything, try just unplugging the Firepod altogether and seeing if there's a 'ghost' running on there - that happens with a lot of things, from wireless USB cards to pen drives to recording interfaces, so it's worth a shot unplugging it and seeing if ASIO clusterfuck level goes down. If it doesn't, I'd guess goobered up drivers or configuration; if it does, evil Firepod. Hopefully something in there narrows it down.

EDIT: Saw a response from Where She Wept, but not on here, so I'm replying in this - the Mac comment was just smartass nonsense... I'm a Linux user. END EDIT

Jeff

 

[JeffTD]

I've tried it with Logic Express, and it worked out fine - but the two use different audio drivers. LE uses Core Audio, and Cubase uses ASIO.

Just tried unplugging it, did basically nothing but change the output of the audio.

Now for the weird part - it'll playback a section of the song I've got open with 12 tracks and DFHS going just fine, but it screws up when trying to play the 4 tracks and no DFHS in the intro. It won't record without screwing up in either of the parts I mentioned, though.

 

[JeffTD]

Alright: here's a bitch - I've reinstalled the C4 software, and switched to using my POD as a soundcard... same result.

Looks like this is a Cubase issue .

 

[JBroll]

This is why I keep install source handy, have fun reinstalling and reconfiguring.

I'm going to go ahead and... not upgrade for a while.

Jeff

 

[JeffTD]

See, I had no choice. C4 is the only one that runs on Intels.

I'm reinstalling, redoing all preferences from scratch, doing the 4.0.1 update, etc etc... I'll report back if anything works.

 

[JBroll]

Try checking out Ardour - it's free, I use it on Linux (and there are nice Mac OS builds available so you don't have to think about it any more than you would a normal Mac application) and it's intuitive enough if you've used any DAW at all... worst case scenario, it might just work as a backup until you get Cubase working right.

Jeff

 

[JeffTD]

Alright, this is really fucking getting to me.


I just did a full system reformat, and the same shit is happening.

Steinbergs customer service is shit, and their forum isn't helping.

 

[JBroll]

Have you tried Presonus tech support?

Jeff

 

[JeffTD]

Yeah, it's not a Presonus error - it's a Cubase error.

I'm going to carry my FirePod and HDD's down to the family iMac and see if things still fuckup there.

If they don't... I'm absolutely lost as to what it could be.

 

[Wolfeman]

This is exactally why I'm going to stick with SX3 for about another year...

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Sell your intel and get a quad g5. lol

 

[JBroll]

Goddamn, it's one thing to be kidding about 'Get a Mac', but now we're telling him to 'Get a different Mac' and that's going to magic away all problems ever?

Jeff

 

[JeffTD]

Weirdest thing ever:


It works (the same exact project running off the same HDD with the same FirePod) just fine on my families iMac.


*EDIT* ahhh sooooo gay! I just took off all the plugins... and it decides to work just fine. Now I get to find out which plugin is the culprit.


*EDIT2* Apparently a single instance of the Sonalksis EQ I had on my dirty guitars was causing the whole entire project to fuck up.

I'm such a dumbass.

 

[JBroll]

Glad to hear you've got things working out. Any idea why that EQ went apeshit on you?

Jeff

 

[JeffTD]

No clue, at all. I can even load up the eq again, and fuck around with it, and it'll be fine... until I plug in that preset or set it near the settings I had - it just goes to total shit.


Oh well, at least the Cubase 4 stock EQ is pretty damn good this time around.

 

[JBroll]

Have you already tried processing the file through the EQ to see whether it's a problem only when playing back or a problem with the plugin not working period?

Jeff

 

[JeffTD]

Didn't think of trying that - In all honesty it was a slight boost with a narrow Q at one frequency, and then an HPF and LPF. Nothing the Cubase EQ can't handle - it's not too critical an EQ process.